The Detroit Fire Department (DFD) has hosted its second Fire Leadership Roundtable at the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters.
Building upon the success of the inaugural event in 2024, the roundtable continued to foster collaboration among fire service leaders, emergency response professionals and public safety officials from across Metro Detroit and Windsor.
Participants from West Bloomfield Township to Wyandotte and municipalities in between engaged in in-depth discussions on fire service innovation, emergency management, and interagency collaboration.
The event featured a tour of Detroit’s Emergency Dispatch Center and Real-Time Crime Center, providing attendees with firsthand insight into the city’s integrated approach to emergency response.
Participants observed how technology and data-driven strategies enhance decision-making and coordination between fire, police and emergency medical services.
Detroit Executive Fire Commissioner Chuck Simms said: “The Fire Leadership Roundtable is an invaluable opportunity to strengthen partnerships and explore new ways to enhance emergency response in Detroit.
“By bringing together experienced leaders and public safety professionals, we continue to advance our mission of protecting lives and property and learn from one another’s lived experiences.”
Key discussion topics included emerging fire safety technologies and best practices in social media and media relations. Leaders also discussed collaboration as it relates to training and emergency response.
Warren Fire Chief Orinn Ferguson added: “The roundtable was a great way to foster communication, learn new ideas and different ways of doing things.
“These discussions will help us to move forward in decision making around spending for training and other new initiatives.”
Redford Township Fire Chief Scott Demoff explained: “I think it’s a great thing to be able to work with Detroit. We border Detroit. The option to train together is essential.
“When that emergency happens, you don’t want that to be the first time you meet. We all train in fire and EMS, but we need to understand expectations and how we’ll go about solving the problem before it arises.”
Leaders also discussed how to best work together to ensure our region is collaborative in their efforts to secure grant funding from both state and federal agencies.
West Bloomfield Township Fire Chief Greg Flynn acknowledged this: “It’s great to be here in Detroit with colleagues from across Southeast Michigan to discuss some of the challenges specifically related to funding at the local, state and federal levels and how we can all really come together to achieve our shared outcomes of keeping our communities safe.”
At the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters, the second Fire Leadership Roundtable was hosted by the Detroit Fire Department.
The roundtable was designed to foster collaboration among fire service leaders, emergency response professionals and public safety officials.
